Dwight Howard leads everyone in first All-Star ballot returns

By Kurt HelinJan 12, 2012, 2:58 PM EST

You didn’t love Dwight Howard as much as Derrick Rose and LeBron James when it came time to award the MVP last year (I know you didn’t get to vote on that, neither did I, but sentiment on this site ran heavy to Rose among commenters).

But you love him now.

Howard, the Magic’s center, is the leading vote getter in the East and overall in the first All-Star ballot returns released by the NBA Thursday. The game is scheduled for Feb. 26 in Orlando. (And you wonder why Orlando isn’t going to seriously consider trades for Howard until after that game.)

James leads all forwards and is second in the East, followed closely for second overall by Rose.

Out West, Kobe Bryant is the overall vote leader followed closely by Kevin Durant. But look who is the current leading vote getter to be the West’s starting center?

By the way — if you are thinking of voting for JaVale McGee at center in the East, you should vote for Al Horford instead. And same with Jose Calderon, the Toronto guard who has outplayed Deron Williams so far this season. Just a suggestion.

Here are the first round of results (top 5 at each position). There are 19 days of voting left.

Eastern Conference

Forwards: LeBron James (Miami) 640,789; Carmelo Anthony (New York) 496,351; Amar’e Stoudemire (New York) 178,797; Kevin Garnett (Boston) 173,161; Chris Bosh (Miami) 140,601.

Guards: Derrick Rose (Chicago) 640,476; Dwyane Wade (Miami) 637,912; Rajon Rondo (Boston) 253,969; Ray Allen (Boston) 174,934; Deron Williams (New Jersey) 89,128.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orlando) 754,737; Joakim Noah (Chicago) 75,038; Tyson Chandler (New York) 61,774; Joel Anthony (Miami) 41,832; JaVale McGee (Washington) 24,713.

Western Conference

Forwards: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City) 633,538; Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers) 394,264; Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) 231,832; Pau Gasol (L.A. Lakers) 185,428; Kevin Love (Minnesota) 143,814.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) 690,613; Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers) 540,173; Ricky Rubio (Minnesota) 133,520; Steve Nash (Phoenix) 118,922; Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma city) 107,197.

Centers: Andrew Bynum (L.A. Lakers) 496,597; DeAndre Jordan (L.A. Clippers) 134,961; Marc Gasol (Memphis) 102,116; Nenê (Denver) 94,167; Marcin Gortat (Phoenix) 62,631.

Reports: Stephen Curry out ‘weeks’ with knee injury, Warriors hope for return after All-Star Break

By Kurt HelinFeb 5, 2023, 2:36 PM EST

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

This is bad news for the Warriors. How bad depends on how the word “weeks” is ultimately defined.

Stephen Curry will be out “weeks” with a knee injury suffered against the Mavericks, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry is expected to miss multiple weeks with a left leg injury, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2023

“Weeks” is a vague word, and for the Warriors the difference in Curry being out three weeks (with one of those being the All-Star Break) versus him being out six to eight weeks could be the difference in how long a playoff run the Warriors have.

The Warriors are hoping for a Curry return just after the All-Star break, reports Monty Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.

League source: Tho there is no solid timeline yet, the Warriors are 'hoping' Stephen Curry (L knee) can return shortly after NBA All-Star break ends on Feb. 23. In line with Curry missing 'multiple weeks' reported by @ShamsCharania

— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) February 5, 2023

Of short-term concern, this has Curry out for the All-Star Game where the fans voted him a starter. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will bump one of the reserves up to a starting spot — likely Ja Morant, who was third in fan voting — and name an injury replacement for the team. The top candidates are Devin Booker (if he returns from injury this week as expected), De'Aaron Fox or Anthony Edwards.

Longer term, the Warriors can’t afford to be without Curry for an extended period.

Steph went back to the locker room after after appearing to injure his left leg on this play pic.twitter.com/SKx4XmXMIZ

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 5, 2023

Curry is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists a game, and the Warriors outscore opponents by 5 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court and get outscored by 5.4 when he is off. With the team one game above .500 and struggling to avoid the play-in, an extended absence for Curry is trouble for a Warriors team that has never found its footing this season.

Nets reportedly going to sit Kyrie Irving until he is traded

By Kurt HelinFeb 5, 2023, 12:15 PM EST

This time it looks like it’s going to happen, the Brooklyn Nets will trade Kyrie Irving (unlike this summer).

Just don’t expect to see Irving on the court for Brooklyn until he’s moved, reports Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

Brooklyn Nets intend to keep Kyrie Irving sidelined until a trade is finalized ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 5, 2023

That is at one time a combination of smart, the only real call to make, the Nets wanting to look like they have control over the situation because Irving’s camp already leaked that he was going to sit out the rest of the season if not traded.

Irving did not play Saturday night when the Nets went down by 20 in the first quarter but rallied behind 44 points from Cam Thomas to get a much-needed win.

Four primary suitors have stepped up for Irving: The Lakers (considered Irving’s preferred destination), Suns, Mavericks and Clippers. The question is what do the Nets want back in a trade? If, as most around the league expect, the goal is to remain in the championship picture around Kevin Durant, Brooklyn will prize quality players and depth over draft picks. That’s bad news for the Lakers (the core of their offer is two future first-round picks plus Russell Westbrook) and good for the team down the hall, the Clippers can offer good players — John Wall, Luke Kennard, Reggie Jackson, plus young players such as Terance Mann — plus a pick if they need it.

The question for teams: Irving wants a max contract after this summer, similar to the four-year, $198.5 million fully guaranteed extension the Nets would not offer after Irving had 10 weeks or so of not being disruptive and focusing on basketball. Around the league, front offices are very hesitant to get into the Irving business for that long (most thought he would never get more than a two-year offer). Are the four teams above desperate enough for a bold move that ownership would sign off on four years with Irving? Will any of them? Or, like this summer, will Irving find the market not to his liking?

It’s going to be interesting until the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go off for 42, Thunder blow out Rockets

Associated PressFeb 5, 2023, 11:26 AM EST

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder took what coach Mark Daigneault called a “bloodthirsty mentality” into Saturday’s rematch with the Houston Rockets.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points to help the Thunder blow out Houston 153-121.

They were disappointed in losing at Houston on Wednesday and responded by setting an Oklahoma City record for points in a game, surpassing the 150 they scored in a win over the Boston Celtics last month.

“Just (wanted to) be the aggressors,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Play our style, our brand of basketball. I think we got away from that a little bit in Houston, and we just wanted to get back on track.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (42 PTS, 6 AST) went OFF for his fourth 40+ PT performance of the season in the @okcthunder win 👏 pic.twitter.com/tt6CJQ1875

— NBA (@NBA) February 5, 2023

Daigneault was most pleased that the approach was player-led.

“It wasn’t like I was giving motivational speeches,” he said. “But, you know, as a team, they kind of banded together and decided that they were going to come out and play the way they did. And they were impressive because of it.”

Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone by scoring 20 points in the first quarter.

“I thought tonight was, like, a pretty big leadership statement game for him,” Daigneault said. “I think when you need a response like we needed tonight coming out of the other night, you rely on your guys that are most experienced, who play the most minutes.”

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 7 for 23 from the field in the first matchup, but bounced back to make 14 of 23 field goals on Saturday, falling two points short of his career high. The first-time All-Star also made 14 of 15 free throws and had six assists for the Thunder, despite not playing in the fourth quarter because the Thunder led by 42 points at the end of the third.

Mike Muscala scored a season-high 19 points and Josh Giddey added 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Oklahoma City.

“We’re a team that’s growing in confidence, and I think our habits are growing,” Daigneault said. “And I think a lot of things are moving in the right direction.”

Josh Christopher and TyTy Washington each scored 20 points and Tari Eason added 18 for the Rockets.

The Rockets were playing without Eric Gordon (sore right knee) and Jae'Sean Tate (right ankle injury).

Rockets coach Stephen Silas didn’t want to hear it.

“You’ve got to step up in these situations, and we didn’t do it,” he said. “We succumbed to back-to-back, three-in-four, no Eric, no Tate, all that stuff. … We succumbed to it. That’s not – we’re talking about winning habits. That’s not one.”

Oklahoma City led 79-53 at the break after shooting 55% from the field. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points in the first two quarters, a career high for him in a first half.

The Thunder continued to roll in the third quarter, making 16 of 26 field goals in the period to go up 123-81 heading into the fourth.

Oklahoma City set the Thunder single-game scoring record on a 3-pointer by Darius Bazley that banked in during the final minute.

Stephen Curry leaves game with knee injury, MRI Sunday

By Kurt HelinFeb 5, 2023, 8:07 AM EST

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Warriors fans everywhere — not to mention coaching staff and players — are holding their breath.

Stephen Curry left the game against the Mavericks in the third quarter when he was defending Danny Green and the two collided, knocking knees. On the replay, Curry’s knee seems to bend slightly at an awkward angle.

Steph went back to the locker room after after appearing to injure his left leg on this play pic.twitter.com/SKx4XmXMIZ

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 5, 2023

Curry went to the Warriors’ bench, was looked at by the team medical staff, and soon went back to the locker room and did not return. X-rays taken of his knee were negative, but the MRI expected Sunday will be more telling.

Of extra concern is that this is the second injury to that leg in as many games, Curry was able to play through the first one.

Of note on the Steph Curry lower left leg injury: He initially banged it up in Denver on Thursday on this shot attempt. Listed on the injury report today as a contusion. Had extra padding for it. Then took this second hit that knocked him out of game. pic.twitter.com/S3YSUgTEP6

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 5, 2023

Curry is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists a game. Of larger concern, the Warriors outscore opponents by 5 points per 100 possessions when Curry is on the court and get outscored by 5.4 when he is off. At 27-26 the Warriors sit seventh in the West.

The defending champs have not lived up to that billing this season, never putting together a consistent run of high-level basketball to show us what we believe they are capable of. If Curry misses significant time (and potentially the All-Star Game) it will be longer before we get to see if these Warriors can pull it together.

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